All directors want to direct the next Hollywood blockbuster. Directors such as Michael Bay and James Cameron have made a name for themselves by directing expensive spectacles that have garnered huge success at the box office. If your story is "high-concept," meaning that it has mass appeal, directors will notice. A high-concept story can be in any genre as long as it has the potential to draw large crowds to the theater. A small-town girl learns to love again after a breakup is not considered a high-concept story. Alien robots are sent to destroy Earth is high-concept.
Most people who read screenplays -- directors, agents, producers or even assistants -- will not read your entire script unless you grab their attention within the first ten pages. A director has too many writers vying for his attention. Make your script stand out. If your story is a thriller, open with a heart-pounding action sequence, such as a high-speed car chase or an impending bomb threat. If your story is more character-driven, find a compelling way to introduce the character and bring the reader into her world. Hook your reader on page one and carry that momentum through the first ten pages and the rest of the script.
Unlike novels, screenwriters can't spend large amounts of time describing scenery or revealing the inner thoughts of characters. Hollywood movies are typically about action and must move at a certain pace. Directors are attracted to scripts that tell a compelling story through pictures. Remember that film making is a visual medium. Don't waste time on lengthy dialog. This will be perceived as "talking heads." Instead, find a dramatic way for characters to reveal themselves.
Directors want to work on projects that already have a buzz. Create a buzz for yourself by submitting your work to prestigious screenwriting contests, such as the Nicholl Screenwriting Competition. These contests are highly competitive, but the winners get noticed by directors and agents.
Half the battle of selling your story is knowing your audience. Don't go after directors who have not done films in the same genre as your story. Action director Michael Bay probably won't be interested in your story if it's a romantic comedy. Target directors with a similar style and sensibility as your own. A director will notice your story if it is line with other projects he has done in his career.
Directors are more prone to be interested in a script that already has talent attached. If you have an agent, she can have your script read by A-list actors. If you have personal connections with actors, ask them to read your script. You have a much better chance of getting a director to notice your story if you already have Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts or Zoe Saldana attached to star in the picture.